[When we last looked into Acts chapter three we noticed this crippled man and how he represented every lost soul before they find the Lord Jesus Christ and the undeniable change that the Lord Jesus Christ brings into our lives through the new birth.  We Noticed His,]

 ·        [Condition – He was completely hopeless.]

·        [Cure – He was completely transformed]

·        [Confirmation – His Walk and Talk confirmed his transformation.] 

[Today we will look into the immediate results of this man’s complete healing and transformation.  These results are no different than the results that ought to be evidenced in every new born Christian.  As we examine these results we will notice that these results include,] 

A.    The Wonder In The Cure (vs 9-11) [- The wonder and amazement of what had happened in this crippled man is undeniably expressed in our text.  Notice,] 

1.           The Wretchedness of the Cured (vs 9-10; Psalm 103.10-13) [– And all the people saw him walking and praising God: ¹⁰ And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: . . . - The people knew, without doubt who this man was and what he had been.  So it is when the sinful and lost are bought by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, everybody knows what the saved once were.] 

[This crippled man was the wretch who must have been rejected by God or else he would not have been in such a wretched shape.  After all many would have felt that God had made him the crippled he was for some sin he or his parents had committed.] 

[So it is with many prostitutes, alcoholics, drug addicts, criminals, murderers and much more.  They are wretched and hopeless and due to the heinous nature of their sins it would seem that they can never be reformed and transformed.  But the Bibles declares,] 

[Psalm 103:10-13 ¹⁰ He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. ¹¹ For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. ¹² As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. ¹³ Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. ]

[Perhaps your sins are such that you are convinced that there could be no hope for you, or perhaps your sins are so many that you feel you have far more than anyone could ever forgive.  Almighty-God will forgive you and wondrously so.] 

2.           The Wonder of the Cured (vs 10-11) [– And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. ¹¹ And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. – These people who had walked by this wretched man for over 30 years and thought, “How hopeless and vile that man is.”  Are now amazed at the supernatural transformation that had been done for him and they all gather together in amazement.] 

[So it should be with the new birth in the lives of men and women.  People who once knew the sinful wretch that you once were should look at your converted life and be amazed at the absolute metamorphosis that has taken place.  This wonder ought to be the testimony of the new birth in the lives of born again Christians.  The sad reality of our day is that too many Christians lives such sinful lives that the world sees no distinction between the saved and the lost so that the wonder and amazement are not seen.] 

B.     The Witness In The Cure (vs 12-21) [ - When a born again Christian allows Christ to live the life He desires to live through them a clear witness will accompany their transformed life.] 

1.           The Gospel in the Witness (vs 12-16; Deut 17.6) [– In Peter’s words we hear the death burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and its confirmation by the strongest evidence known to mankind, even in our day.  This is the  eyewitness testimony.  Notice,] 

[Acts 3:15 ¹⁵ And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. ]

[From the beginning the testimony of eyewitnesses was the strongest possible evidence.  The Bible declares,] 

[Deuteronomy 17:6 ⁶ At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. ]

[There are more than five hundred eyewitnesses of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ; this is evidence that goes beyond doubt (1 Cor 15.1-8).  Two of these eyewitnesses were present when this crippled man was thoroughly healed.] 

[Peter recounts first the death, burial, and witnessed resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The gospel is absolutely necessary for the transformation of the lost and for the miracle of conversion to be experienced.] 

2.           The Glory in the Witness (vs 16; Eph 2.8-10) [-  And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. – It is through faith and faith alone that hopeless men and women find the redemption and transformation that only the Lord Jesus Christ can give.  The Bible says,]

 [Ephesians 2:8-10 ⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

[Only by taking God at His Word and believing that through the atonement provided by our Lord Jesus Christ, Almighty God will forgive all your sins and receive you into His  royal family can one be saved and transformed.  This man was completely cured because Jesus Christ made him whole.  So a lost sinner, regardless of his sins can be forgiven, saved, and eternally changed through the Lord Jesus Christ.] 

[This crippled man was made strong and perfectly sound through our Lord Jesus Christ. ] 

[Strong - ἐστερέωσεν (Gk) - from stereós (4731), solid, stable. To make stable, firm, strong, strengthen, trans. (Acts 3:7, 16; Sept.: Ps. 33:6; Is. 44:24). Figuratively, to confirm or establish in faith (Acts 16:5; Sept.: 1 Sam. 2:1).^[1] ] 

[This man was once weak and infirm by has now been made strong.  Likewise, when we receive Christ as our Savior we are made strong.] 

[Perfectly Sound - ὁλοκληρίαν (Gk) - noun from holóklēros (3648), whole in every part, entire, perfect. Perfect soundness, wholeness, integrity.^[2] ] 

[But not only has he been made strong but he has been given complete integrity in Christ, he is sound in every way.  Hence, in our Lord Jesus Christ we are not only cleansed but we are made complete through Christ.] 

3.           The Gift in the Witness (vs 17-21; Rom 10.9-10,13; Rev 3.20; Gal 4.4-7) [– And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸ But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. ¹⁹ Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; ²⁰ And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: ²¹ Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. – The cure provided for this crippled man is a cure that is provided for all mankind.  Everyone who is helplessly undone by their sin can be converted, having his sins blotted out by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.  How?] 

[Romans 10:9-10 ⁹ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ]

[Romans 10:13 ¹³ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ]

[Revelation 3:20 ²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. ]

[Receive the Lord Jesus Christ and you will receive that adoption of sons.  The Bible says,] 

[Galatians 4:4-7 ⁴ But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, ⁵ To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. ⁶ And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. ⁷ Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. ]

[The strength and perfect soundness given to the crippled man is available to every man, woman, and child.  Will you be cured?  Then receive the Lord Jesus Christ. ] 

C.    The Warning In The Cure (vs 22-26) [– Along with the witness given with the cure of this crippled man there is a clear warning.] 

1.           The Condemnation in the Cure (vs 22-23; Rom 6.23) [– For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. ²³ And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.  – Your sins have brought a hideous consequence upon you.] 

[Romans 6:23 ²³ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.]

[The second death, or the eternal lake of fire is the price tag that accompanies each and every sin.  But God has provided the payment in full for your every sin, through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Fail to hear and heed the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be destroyed.  Hear Him, heed Him, and be eternally cured by Him and you will be rescued from this fearful fate.] 

2.           The Call in the Cure (vs 24-26) [– Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. ²⁵ Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. ²⁶ Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. – Everything recorded in all of the scriptures points to the Lord Jesus Christ and the salvation that only He can provide.] 

 

CrossRoads Baptist Sunday Evening, September 5, 2010